In reality, there is no evidence that Starbucks is going to return to the Russian market. According to the media, the coffee chain, which left Russia after the total invasion of Ukraine in 2022, has filed applications for registration of several trademarks through the Russian intellectual property service Rospatent. Starbucks intends to register eight of its brands, including Starbucks, Starbucks coffee, Frappuccino, brands related to the preparation of beverages and food, the sale of instant coffee and a loyalty program.
However, according to reports Kyiv Postthis is a precautionary measure intended to protect its brand, as many patent protections expire next year.
«Russian Starbucks coffee shops have come under the control of Russian rapper Tímati (Timur Yunusov) and businessman Anton Pinskiy. They bought all of the company’s Russian assets in the summer of 2022 and rebranded the business as Stars Coffee with the slogan ‘Dollars go, stars stay’: “Dollars go, stars stay.”«says the Kyiv Post. That is to say, the return of Starbucks to Russia in the near future and under the current circumstances is definitely ruled out.
Furthermore, in 2022 and 2023, Pinskiy’s applications for registration of the new brands Stars Pinskiy Coffee and Stars Kanokov Coffee were rejected by Rospatent, as the similarity of the new marks to the original Starbucks marks could cause “confusion between customers”. In April of this year, hoteliers filed a lawsuit demanding early cancellation of Starbucks Corporation’s trademark, which will likely be considered simultaneously with Starbucks’ current petition. In this way, the American corporation tries to protect its patents in the Russian market and prevent its disappearance.
In addition, the coffee chain’s official website indicates that the company suspended all its commercial activities in Russia at the beginning of March 2022, including the shipment of all Starbucks products. Starbucks has decided to withdraw and stop being present in the Russian market. The company also condemned Russia’s “unprovoked, unjust and horrific attack on Ukraine” and donated all royalties received from its operations in Russia to humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Additionally, the Starbucks Foundation has committed $500,000 to World Central Kitchen and the Red Cross to provide humanitarian aid to Ukraine.
